Petunia plant named ‘Kersamfan’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Kersamfan’ characterized by its salmon-colored flowers with deep salmon-colored veins, large single-type flowers, excellent branching, and semi-trailing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Petunia×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Kersamfan’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Kersamfan’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Cambridge, United Kingdom during August 2001. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Petunia cultivars having single-type flowers with unique flower colors and vigorous, mounded, and trailing growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selection designated 01-120-1, not patented, characterized by its single-type, pink flushed white-colored flowers and upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was ‘Kercan’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,787, characterized by its double-type, pink-colored flowers with deep pink-colored veins and semi-trailing growth habit. The new Petunia was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2002 in a controlled environment at Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2002 at Cambridge, United Kingdom and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Kersamfan’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Salmon-colored flowers with deep salmon-colored veins;     -   2. Large single-type flowers;     -   3. Excellent branching; and     -   4. Semi-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and flower type.

Of the many commercially available Petunia cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Kercofan’, unpatented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Kercofan’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Kercofan’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more prominent flower petal         venation than plants of ‘Kercofan’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Kersamfan’. The plants were grown 3 plants per pot in 20 cm pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse at Cambridge, United Kingdom.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Kersamfan’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Kersamfan’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 1995 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Jun. 30, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under 50% shade light conditions, in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at Cambridge, United Kingdom 3 plants in each 20 cm pot for 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 64° F. to 82° F. (18° C. to 28° C.) during the day and approximately 57° F. to 68° F. (14° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of an average of 4,645 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar Kersamfan. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding             selection designated 01-120-1, not patented.         -   Male parent.—‘Kercan’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,787. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 14 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 30 to 45             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting length.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Semi-trailing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 20 cm. Height from bottom of trailing stem to             top of plant: Approximately 55 cm. Width: Approximately 60             cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching, pinching improves             branching. Approximately 5 main branches per plant with             lateral branches potentially forming at every node.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate to strong. Length: Approximately             56.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture: Pubescent.             Color of mature stem: 144A. Internode length at center of             branch: Approximately 5.3 cm.         -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 14.             Form: Simple. Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.             Aspect: Obtuse angle to stem. Shape: Elliptic. Margin:             Entire, slightly undulating. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 4.1 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             2.6 cm. Texture of upper surfaces: Pubescent, slightly             coarse. Texture of lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Color             of upper surface of young foliage: Between 137B and 137C.             Color of lower surface of young foliage: 147B. Color of             upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation of 144A.             Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 147B with venation             of 144B. Petiole length: Approximately 4.7 mm. Petiole             diameter: Approximately 2.8 mm. Petiole texture: Pubescent.             Petiole color of upper surface: Between 144A and 144B.             Petiole color of lower surface: 144A. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Kersamfan’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn.         -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 8.5 weeks after sticking             of unrooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 10 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Simple, salverform and self-cleaning. Aspect: Outward.             Fragrance: None. Quantity per lateral stem at ten weeks:             Approximately 17. Quantity of flowers and buds per plant at             ten weeks: Approximately 120.         -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Quantity per lateral stem at ten             weeks: Approximately 7.5. Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 3.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.2 mm.             Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 145A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 7.3 cm. Depth/Height:             Approximately 2.4 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5 fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Apex: Obtuse, undulation causes it to appear acute. Margin:             Entire, undulating. Appearance: Prominently veined. Texture             of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:             Sparsely pubescent. Texture of throat: Glabrous. Length of             petal from throat: Approximately 3.4 cm. Petal width:             Approximately 2.8 cm. Color of upper surface when opening:             61D with venation between 53A and 53B. Color of upper             surface when fully open: 61D with venation between 53A and             53B that fades to 54B. Color of lower surface when opening             and fully open: 63C with venation of 144A. Color of throat:             1D with venation of 183A.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 4.3 mm. Texture of outer surface: Pubescent,             somewhat coarse. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Color             of outer surface: 144D with venation of 145A. Color of inner             surface: 1D with venation of 183A.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 fused at base. Shape: Narrow,             oblong. Margin: Entire, slightly undulating. Apex: Obtuse.             Base: Acute. Sepal length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Sepal             width: Approximately 5.5 mm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent. Color of upper surface: 147A. Color of             lower surface: 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 fused at             base to inside of corolla tube. Anther shape: Bilobed.             Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: 4D.             Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 8C. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.8 cm.             Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma color: Between 144A and 144D.             Style length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Style color: 145B. Ovary             color: 145A.         -   Fruit.—Classification: Dry capsule. Shape: Conical.             Diameter: Approximately 5.1 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color of             immature fruit: 146D at base transitioning to 146A at tip.             Color of mature fruit: 199B at base transitioning to 199A at             tip.         -   Seed.—Quantity: 60 to 200 per capsule. Diameter:             Approximately 0.5 mm. Color: 200A to 200C. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Petunia has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Kersamfan’, substantially as herein shown and described. 